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World Leaders Prepare For New U.S. Presidency; Former U.S. Ambassador To Israel On Diplomatic Era Ahead; Global COVID Toll Hits 1.28 Million Deaths; Collinson On Trump: Staggering & Surreal Failure Of Leadership; Storm Makes Second Landfall Along Florida's Gulf Coast; Golfers Tackle Augusta In The Age Of COVID-19. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired November 12, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Right now Joe Biden building out his brand new White House as America hits its highest number of new COVID cases ever and
indeed the numbers don't lie on either front whether we're counting the new cases reported each day in America or the votes that gave President-Elect
Joe Biden his margin of victory.
By the end of the day, there is only one top job in Washington. However much the current president refuses to concede defeat, the White House will
never be big enough for the two of them. Joe Biden pushing ahead regardless choosing Ron Klain, his Former Chief of Staff while he was Vice President,
the man who helped coordinate the 2014 Ebola outbreak response to now fill that role in the Oval Office.
The world leaders also seem keen to turn the page while the State Department is blocking President-Elect Biden from getting some of the
congratulations that are coming in from around the world. It hasn't stopped Mr. Biden from calling several key allies more from Joe Johns on what is
this bumpy transition.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A defiant President Trump is still refusing to admit defeat this morning but around the world many foreign leaders are
moving on.
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BORIS JHONSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It was extremely exciting to talk to President-Elect Biden.
JOHNS: Some top U.S. allies holding calls with President-Elect Joe Biden despite the Trump Administration's efforts to stall the transition of
power. These communications are happening unofficially with the State Department preventing Biden from accessing some messages sent to him
officials familiar with the situation tells CNN. On Capitol Hill, one Republican Senator, James Lankford says it's unacceptable to deny the
president-elect information from daily intelligence briefings. He still supports Trump's legal efforts investigating the election results.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAMES LANKFORD (R-OK): There is no loss from him getting the briefings and will be able to do that. If that's not occurring by Friday, I'll step
in as well and will be able to push to say this needs to occur so that regardless of the outcome of the election, whichever way that it goes
people can be ready for that actual task.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Biden says he will keep working even with the road blocks put before him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Access to classified information is useful. I'm not in a position to make any decisions on those issues any way as I
say one president at a time. And he'll be president until January 20th. It would be nice to visit but it's not critical.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: The president making his first public appearance since losing to Biden for a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington Cemetery. After lashing out
about the election results at the White House last week, he's using Twitter to air his grievances and baseless allegations, including this attack
against the Philadelphia's Republican City Commissioner Al Schmidt, writing, he refuses to look at a mountain of corruption and dishonesty.
This tweet just minutes after Schmidt told CNN there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud even after they've investigated some of the
allegations promoted by Trump and his supporters.
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AL SCHMIDT, PHILADELPHIA CITY COMMISSIONER: One thing I can't comprehend is how hungry people are to consume lies and to consume information that is
not true.
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JOHNS: The message of fair elections echoed by other officials across the nation, including Georgia, where Biden is ahead, and the Secretary of State
has even ordered a recount by hand.
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BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE: We have ongoing investigations but we have not seen something widespread. We believe that
the ballots were counted accurately with the machine count. And there is formatting audit with a hand counting of statewide recount we'll confirm
that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Joe Johns reporting there. So pressing on the president- elect is making or certainly beginning to make contact with world leaders. He's so far spoken to key European and Asia-Pacific allies including Korea,
Japan, and Australia.
Biden promising to defend U.S. allies particularly as China flexes its muscles in that region. While here in the Middle East, and don't forget
this program is broadcast from your Middle East Programming Hub in Abu Dhabi, Biden inheriting new opportunities but equally new risks.
Ankara has congratulated the next president and how that relationship plays out will be crucial given Turkey's role both around this region
particularly in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean vastly rising threat of extremism within its own borders.
We're also waiting to see how Joe Biden's relationship with Iran will evolve, particularly after Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear pioneered
while Biden was vice president. The same uncertainty goes for Israel which is about to enter a new era in terms of global relations including the
country from which I am speaking to you right now, of course.
But away from the halls of power, only one group of people really matters. That's the people themselves, right? Here's some of what we have been
hearing on the street.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who wins or loses this is something that does not concern the Saudi citizen we leave it up to God and then to our government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully, Biden will be better than Trump. U.S. policy is the same but Trump was worse for Libya especially during the recent war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rumors like Biden will divide Iraq and the like, no. Biden is like any president and we don't forget that the source of American
decision is not only Biden.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president is merely an employee that does what he's told at the end of the day. So I don't think there will be any change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So they've removed someone who is bad but they've brought in someone even worse nothing new. It won't make any difference to
us one leaves another will take his place following the same system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not against whoever wins or loses but their goal is unified. Biden won that's great. He'll calm the situation down. Someone
else will come in four years and will worsen the situation again. This is the general U.S. policy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President-Elect Joe Biden will not be different from others. President Donald Trump may have been frank and clear, but he was
the real face of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Our next guest knows American diplomacy and indeed Joe Biden firsthand I think it's fair to say. The Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel,
Dan Shapiro, is close to the president-elect and joins us now for some perspective on what we can expect over the next four years.
It's good to have you on. You're a good friend of the show. We have spoken a lot over the past couple of years. Not least about Israel as we walked
each other through a series of elections there, Dan. Let's stay region.
I want to talk about the recent normalizations first. The signings of course at the White House and, President-Elect Biden said at the time, he
welcomed the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain taking steps to normalize ties with Israel adding that a Biden-Harris Administration will build on
these steps challenge other nations to keep pace.
And work to leverage these growing ties into progress towards a two-state solution and a more stable, peaceful region. I wonder what you make of
that. And what we should expect in region from a Biden/Harris Administration?
DAN SHAPIRO, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Thanks, Becky. Just to stay up front that I don't speak on behalf of the Biden Campaign or the Biden
transition. I'm speaking just in my own independent voice.
What you just read from then candidate now President-Elect Biden's statement I think summarizes well his view of that opportunity that's
presented by the normalization agreements between the UAE and Bahrain the one in Sudan that seemed on its way and Israel. This represents a long-term
strategic objective by partisan American Administrations that wanted to see Israel and its Arab neighbors normalize relations.
[11:10:00]
SHAPIRO: That sees opportunities first security cooperation which somewhat was taking place any way because they represent - they recognized common
threats like Iran. So they were doing that quietly but now that can be brought out in the open.
But even more now has opportunities for technology and trade relations for cultural exchanges. And really poses an opportunity for a very different
atmosphere in the region between different U.S. partners who previously were not engaging with one another.
And in addition to that, it - these new normalized relations between Israel and Arab states also hold within them the potential, if they're used
effectively and strategically, to help generate some new momentum on the stalemate at Israeli Palestinian peace front.
That remains also a goal for many years of many different administrations to achieve an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiated at a two-
state solution. Arab states who have been boycotting Israel during that period have really not been able to play that much of a role.
It may be that those who are at peace and normalize relations with Israel can be more supportive and more influential both with Israelis and with
Palestinians in a way that could move the process forward.
ANDERSON: Ironically does Israel have a weaker hand going into any negotiations on peace going forward do you think Dan?
SHAPIRO: Well, look. I think Israel is obviously a strong nation able to defend itself as it should be. That's a strong commitment that the United
States brings. And President-Elect Biden certainly will sustain that's been his lifelong feeling about the U.S.-Israel relationship and Israel
security.
Frankly, new relationships with Arab neighbors should be welcomed and shouldn't be seen, I think, as a step towards Israel's deeper integration
into the region and perhaps that actually gives them greater leverage and negotiations but - not a question of leverage so much.
Palestinians obviously have not been happy about these normalized relations, but they also need to understand that the region is moving on.
And it is time to come to the table. And hopefully, they will see that it's in their own interest to try to take the steps and have Israel reciprocate
with its own steps that stabilize the situation, improve the economic situation for Palestinian, the security cooperation between the two sides
resume.
And when the time is right, and it may not be right in the near term but over time, get back to an actual negotiation toward a conflict-ending
agreement.
ANDERSON: A key pillar of American foreign policy, if not one of the key pillars, if not the key pillar is of course Israeli security. I want to
refer to a recent FT article in which it was written that as Mr. Biden prepares to take the helm, experts say nothing will strain the president-
elect's 38-year relationship with Mr. Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, more than his plan to reenter the Iran Deal that Mr. Trump abandoned two
years ago, your thoughts?
SHAPIRO: Well, of course, the Iran Nuclear Agreement had the effect of keeping Iran at least a year from a nuclear weapon for at least a decade,
probably more like a decade and half. When President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, Iran began to violate commitments.
And today Iran sits around three months from a nuclear breakout. So it's as if the situation on the Iranian Nuclear power has improved it actually
gotten more dangerous. Frankly Iran has become more aggressive in the region during that same period attacking U.S. forces in the gulf and oil
tankers in Saudi oil fields and Iraqi military bases, including where U.S. forces serve.
And funneling huge amounts of weapons into Syria that Israel has had to often strike in order to defend itself and, the United States has become
quite isolated in trying to deal with this threat. Unable to extend the U.N. arms embargo against Iran, unable to snap back nuclear sanctions
because other nations have to see the United States - by itself.
So, Biden is going to have to confront those unfortunate realities. He has said he's open to returning to the JCPOA the Iran Nuclear Deal if Iran
comes back into compliance it's not clear whether or not they will. And obviously it's been required deep consultations with regional partners like
Israel like Arab Gulf states and of course with our European allies to make this an effective policy.
ANDERSON: And I do want to talk about the Europeans because the first telephone calls that were made between Washington and other capitals around
the world were those of Europe.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: It is clear that a Biden Administration wants to revitalize its partnerships with Europeans and indeed its alliances with NATO. And I think
my next question alludes to part of what is going on in Europe and indeed sort of with the Middle East.
This is not Obama's Middle East, says an article in "The Wall Street Journal" on Monday writing that Biden faces new risks and opportunities
with Turkey arising Islamist threat. It alludes to Turkey's support for radical Islamist separatist group within France and flags its role in Libya
and the Eastern Mediterranean.
When Joe Biden and his foreign policy team look to Europe, there is a very big and very messy story out there, not least the relationship that Donald
Trump has had with some of these capitals and with NATO.
I just wonder whether you agree with what was written in that "Wall Street Journal" article there. And where you think the Biden Administration's
priorities will be going forward perhaps outside of the Middle East?
SHAPIRO: Well, you know, the - Trump approach, which he labeled America first, really has meant America alone. And often, America alone and, you
know, to hell with everybody else. That's not a very effective way to confront most of the challenges that we face in the world.
Most of the challenges we face in the world can only be addressed effectively if done with U.S. leadership, a multilateral coalition of
allies and other like-minded nations tackling them together. The major priorities frankly are things like transnational crises the COVID pandemic,
of course which the Trump Administration has really refused to cooperate with other countries on. The economic crisis which also must be addressed
on a multilateral basis even before a COVID migration crisis of course, the climate crisis which, the President-Elect Biden will address when the
United States rejoins the Paris Climate Accords on his first day in office.
And all of these, and of course, the nonproliferation challenges like Iran's Nuclear program. All of these can only be addressed when the United
States has strong alliances, which have been neglected and even harmed in Trump years. So those early phone calls I think are very clear signal that
the President-Elect Biden intends very much wants to revitalize traditional U.S. alliances.
He's done with the European and with Asian groups of countries over the last couple of days because unless we're working together with those
allies, those transnational problems I mentioned as well as the challenges posed by China and Russia are really things that we won't be able to
address effectively.
ANDERSON: These are conversations that we'll continue. We have - 70 days until the Biden Administration takes over and then, a period of time to
discuss how they're doing and where their priorities lie? It will become clearer in the days ahead. Dan, always appreciate it, thank you so much for
your analysis.
As you rightly point out, this is a personal analysis and insight into what is going on both in this region of the Middle East and elsewhere but
valuable nonetheless absolutely valuable for us and the viewers, thank you sir.
I want to take a look now what a Biden Administration will mean for Yemen, the world's worst humanitarian disaster? It's a war that Joe Biden has
vowed to wind down U.S. support of. I spoke to David Beasley, the Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Program about how bad things are in the
country? David began by telling me how the Coronavirus pandemic is pushing the crisis into further calamity?
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DAVID BEASLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: This is the worst humanitarian crisis by far around the world. And now, we're running
out of money. But here's what the dilemma. We have not been able to get the access we need.
We said working with the donors seven preconditions to working with the authorities. They have denied us access we need. We haven't been able to
work through those. We have been literally working on biometrics in many of these conditions for two years.
I mean, these are conditions that we do all over the world that should be worked out in matter of hours and days. Not as we have been having to be
drug along, dragged along like a dog and pony show. And it's just outrageous.
And so the donors lost confidence back in the spring of this year. And so we had to cut rations to half so 9 million people receiving half rations.
So what do you think is going to happen? We have not been able to get the elements to move to the degree we think is necessary.
Now a week ago, they finally made a step forward on biometrics. We hope that is a major breakthrough. We hope that's hopefully a sign of good
things to come because right now, this is what I told them Becky.
[11:20:00]
BEASLEY: I said, look, this is not a time to play games because Yemen is not the only catastrophe around the world right now. With the economic
deterioration, because of COVID, we have got crisis all over the world so nations and donors are struggling where to put the money?
There is not going to be enough money. So guess who pays the price for all of this? The poor people of Yemen and now, the famine is knocking on our
door once again and worse than 2018.
ANDERSON: This is a conflict that's been going on for around five years. Briefly, what does a Biden Administration mean for the country, David?
BEASLEY: You know, what I have found, Becky. This has been great. The Republicans and the Democrats seem to be fighting over everything in the
United States. But when it comes to food aid, I can tell you the Republicans and Democrats, they lay aside the differences. They come
together.
So I'm very confident that we're going to have the support we need from the White House down to the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. I have already been
talking to leaders on both sides of the aisle. And they are very concerned. They want to step up.
They've done that in the past. When I arrived, we were at 1.9 billion from the U.S. now we're 3.5 billion. I see no indication that will be backed
down regardless of how the economy is being impacted by COVID? So that is a commitment I do believe that we can expect going forward. I'm hoping that
the other nations will follow suit, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is David Beasley of the World Food Program there. And we'll bring you more of that interview tomorrow. Now an update on our breaking
news here in the Middle East this hour an international peacekeeping force says eight of its members were killed in a helicopter crash in Egypt.
The group was on a routine supply mission in the Southern Sinai Peninsula. Six American, one French and one Czech national are sadly among the dead
another American survived the crash. The group known as the Multinational Force and observers says the incident appears to be an accident. Czech
officials say the cause was technical issues. Of course we're working our sources and will get you more as and when we get it.
Right now, tropical storm Eta pummeling Florida's Gulf Coast after ripping through Central America as a hurricane we'll look at the devastation it has
left behind that's ahead. First up, though America reporting a record new number of Coronavirus cases. Everything you need to know is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: COVID-19 spiraling out of control in many parts of the world. Even in countries that once thought they had the virus in hand. Let's take
a quick look at what we know right now Italy joining a grim club now the tenth country in the world to surpass 1 million confirmed cases neighboring
Austria struggling with a new daily record of COVID infections more than 9,000 in the past 24 hours.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: Slovakia also having a hard time of its extending the state of emergency through the end of the year. We're moving to Asia and Japan,
warning of a third wave as new cases there return to levels not seen since early August.
The worst affected country on earth, which is America, one of President- Elect Biden's Coronavirus Advisers says that the U.S. is entering COVID hell the country recording more than 143,000 cases in one day. That is the
largest single daily case count since the pandemic began.
And more Americans are hospitalized with the virus new than ever before with more than 65,000 COVID patients currently in hospital. Local officials
say are scrambling to reverse the trend. Some people are asking others to stay at home others are putting new restrictions in place. CNN's reporters
across the United States have more for you.
ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Athena Jones in New York. We're starting Friday indoor gatherings at private residences will be
limited to ten people and bars and restaurants that serve alcohol will have to close at 10 but they can still sell food for pickup or delivery.
In announcing new restrictions Governor Andrew Cuomo is playing contact tracing has shown the biggest spreaders of COVID are places that serve
alcohol, gyms, and indoor gatherings at private residences. The Governor has sited increasing COVID-19 rates at neighboring states as the reason for
the policy change.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Adrienne Broaddus in Chicago. And here in Illinois there is one request from top doctors, stay at home for
the next three weeks. The recommendation from the Illinois Department of Health, only go outside for essential services. For example purchasing
groceries or picking up medication if needed.
This, after Illinois reported more than 12,000 new Coronavirus and probable cause cases the state also reported on Wednesday 145 additional deaths.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Martin Savidge. The Mayor of Pensacola has declared a state of emergency over COVID-19 after
hospitalization of the cities spike. The Florida Department of Health's data indicates there has been greater community spread during the past week
compared to previous weeks.
Meanwhile, the State of Florida says more than 3,000 people are now hospitalized due to Coronavirus. Wednesday, Florida reported 5,838 new
cases of the virus. This, as Governor Ron DeSantis continues to push for a return to normalcy.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles. Due to uncontrolled spread of COVID-19, the Navajo Nation has more than doubled
the number of communities under a health advisory to a total of 34. Navajo leaders say the rapid spread is due to travel out of Navajo Nation as well
as family gatherings of people from different households.
Two things the nation is asking residents to refrain from doing for now. The Navajo Depart of Health says the advisory will be in place until the
risk and cases decline. A 56-hour week end curfew will begin Friday night.
ANDERSON: Well, it's no exaggeration to say that the Coronavirus pandemic has paralyzed tourism. You will remember at the beginning of fall of this
cruise ships across the world became COVID sort of Petri Dishes as it were. Now we're learning that the first cruise vessel to resume sailing in
Caribbean since the start of the crisis is reporting a positive test result for COVID-19.
The captain of the "Sea Dream One" told passengers about the preliminary test result on Wednesday instructing guests to return to their cabins and
remain isolated. Patrick Oppmann joins us from Havana with more on what is next for this ship. Patrick?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We have heard from passengers this morning that they are back in Barbados. And both passengers and crew are
being tested following this rapid test showing one of the passengers on the "Sea Dream One" had tested positive.
This is supposed to be the sailing, which as you mentioned Becky was the first in the Caribbean in months, was supposed to show how cruise ships
could operate safely. Of course, the result has turned out to be apparently very, very different.
And the passengers I've talked to say that they're in the rooms. They're waiting to be told what will happen next. But that essentially, that
despite the rigorous safety protocols this cruise ship had put into place, despite the fact that they were not going to towns that they're only going
to sort of but isolated beaches that there was some social distancing on board that after the first day or two, the passengers were told to wear
masks that this somehow did not prevent a case of Coronavirus.
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OPPMANN: It appears, from coming on board. So now you have a ship about 53 passengers, 66 crew most of these passengers are actually bloggers who were
supposed to be showing the future of the cruise ships, cruise lines, and now they're waiting to see if they have been infected and when they can
safely disembark the ship a very different result than this line intended.
ANDERSON: Quite unfortunate some might call it slightly awkward, as well. Thank you, Patrick. Patrick Oppmann on the story we'll be back right after
this.
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JOHNSON: I had and have a good relationship with the previous president. But I'm delighted to find the many areas in which the Biden - incoming
Biden/Harris Administration is able to make common cause with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, getting ready for the soon to be Biden/Harris Administration. It seems world
leaders are preparing for the U.S. transition of power even if the current occupant of the White House is not.
Case in point South Korea's President Moon Jae-In in a phone call with Joe Biden that happened even though the State Department is actually blocking
the president-elect from accessing other messages of congratulations getting on with this Biden naming long time aide Ron Klain as his White
House Chief of Staff Klain serving that role for Biden when Biden was Vice- President and also coordinating the Obama Administration's response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
Well, in this story on cnt.com today, White House Reporter Stephen Collinson good friend of the show describes what he calls a staggering and
surreal failure of the leadership at the White House joining me now.
There is - it does seem remarkable, watching it from the outside looking in, Biden blocked from receiving messages from world leaders and the things
go on and on. I can see how this reflects on the states from the outside looking in. I wonder how it feels to be within, looking in, as it were.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: It looks like a really strange but not altogether unexpected sequel to the Trump era. I don't think
anybody thought that the president would go quietly if he lost. He told us that the election in his view was rigged before we even had it.
So I don't think really, to be honest, anything, even though it is exceedingly unusual in U.S. history that a beaten president does not
concede, having watched the president for four years and the way he's behaved, it is serious but it's not altogether unexpected.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Let's talk about the election an election that President Trump will not concede. The State of Georgia has announced that it will recount
its ballots by hand. What does this actually mean? And how long will it take at this point?
COLLINSON: Well, the Republican authorities who are running this election in Georgia say that they think they can get this done by November 20th,
which is the preset date for the election to be certified. So what they're going to do? They're going to start right at the beginning and they're
going to hand-count all of these ballots.
That was actually mandated under law that there would be a recount because the election was so close. Having said that, Joe Biden is 14,000 votes
ahead of President Trump with 99 percent of the ballots cast counted the first time.
There's not really any precedent in recent American history for an election or candidate who trails by that margin to overturn this vote. So it still
looks very likely that Joe Biden will win Georgia thus closing off mathematically the president's path to the White House.
So, while the Trump Campaign is very excited that this recount is taking place, I think it's more of a political situation rather than from any real
belief that this is going to change the course of the election.
ANDERSON: It is clear that a Biden Administration is going to take what is happening with regard to Coronavirus in America very, very seriously
143,000 cases of COVID today alone in the U.S. a Biden aide Stephen, recommending a four to six-week national lockdown. Joe Biden said in the
last debate that he would not do that. Should we expect a U-turn here from the president-elect?
COLLINSON: Well, I'm sure that comment was not exactly welcomed in Wilmington, Delaware, where Joe Biden is planning his transition. This Dr.
Osterholm is a member of the Advisory Board that Biden named to tackle the Coronavirus. It doesn't mean necessarily that necessarily that he is going
to be in a policy role in the new administration.
Look, the president's neglect right now, completely ignoring the surge in the pandemic is going to put Biden in a really, really bad position when he
takings office on January 20th. We're seeing an American die every minute right now, given the rising cases it seems very clear that that's going to
be a lot, lot worse by January.
So I don't think we can rule anything out. I think the Biden Administration will be absolutely loathed to have one of its first acts putting the United
States back into a lockdown. But chances of everybody here, especially in southern republican states obeying a lockdown, seems very unlikely.
And there are questions of whether the president actually has the power to impose such a lockdown on states. So I don't think it will be mandated. But
we're going to see a much, much more serious effort based in science, based in fact by the president-elect to tackle to virus than we have seen in the
last ten months from President Trump.
ANDERSON: And you can read more from Stephen Collinson. Thank you, Stephen, 24/7 and all the reporters covering the aftermath of the election on the
website that is Stephen also - criticism at the Vice President of Mike Pence you'll have to go online for more of his sorts on that.
Do you remember voting turnout is the highest in a century? Joe Biden is ahead by some 5 million votes. His lead is growing in Pennsylvania and in
Georgia. It's a fascinating time for America. Can't be easy with 70 days to go before Joe Biden and - is - actually installed in the White House. There
is an awful lot of time for an awful lot of mess.
But before you speed off and leave us to read some of what I've suggested is on the digital website, Stephen's catalog of thoughts are there as well,
we still have got more to do on "Connect the World." A tropical storm is smashing into Florida. As we track that we take you back to look at the
incredible damage it wrought in Central America.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Torrential rain and high winds as tropical storm Eta makes its second landfall in Florida this time along the state's northwest coast.
We'll connect you to everything that we know. For the very latest on the storm's path Meteorologist Chad Myers coming to us from the CNN Weather
Center. And, Chad, what is the current situation on the ground in that area?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The winds are down to about 75 kilometers per hour and that is the good news. A little bit higher when it made
landfall north of the City of Tampa Florida right there. But it is not that far from Jacksonville, Florida. It will be eventually moving out into the
Atlantic Ocean and moving away from land.
But let me take you back to November 1st when this got a name. November 3rd, when a category 4 260 KPH storm made landfall in Nicaragua then it
tried to destroy parts of Honduras, Guatemala and even as far as south as Panama with significant flooding. It turned around. It decided to get back
to the East of Belize and make landfall on the South Coast of Cuba.
It wasn't a hurricane then, but it did enough damage, enough wind and rain and certainly made some power outages. Then it made landfall on November
8th up here in the Florida Keys. Spent time out here between Havana and into Cancun and then finally decided - I have never seen a path like this
before.
We're late in the season. The searing currents are weak I understand but this thing has been in the water for almost two weeks. It there goes over
Jacksonville and out into the ocean. That is the good news. It is finally moving away and won't make landfall again. The highest gusts I can find is
41 KPH that's not - even bring down a couple of branches.
But the storm right now the center near Amelia Island, Florida where they have a beautiful - every spring, I typically go luckily it's not right now.
And there's the rain fall to the north of it up into the Carolinas. Flooding rainfall, flooding in every one of these areas that you see is
red. Some spots have picked up 350 to 550 millimeters of rain just in the past couple of days and it is still raining.
Take you to 5:00 tonight local time it is still raining and then finally, by 10:00, beginning to move offshore. So this is not a very heavy rain
maker not a wind maker anymore but a flash flood maker. More people die from flooding, from the water than from the wind, for sure, every single
year.
So there's the rainfall across parts of the Carolinas. This is what the 2020 season has looked like in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 12 named
storms have made landfall in the U.S. 12. A typical year, we'll get five or six in the water certainly not all of those making landfalls. Becky?
ANDERSON: Remarkable, isn't it? Always a pleasure, Chad, thank you.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: We just had a look at where tropical storm Eta is now headed. Let's see where it's been. The storm made landfall as a category 4
hurricane in Central America last week leaving utter devastation in this, Red Cross tells CNN at least 3.6 million people have been affected by that
storm, connecting us to that reality.
Matt Rivers with us now live from Mexico City. Matt, Chad has forecast where Eta is going? You have been taking a look at where it's already been?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, when Hurricane Eta made landfall in Nicaragua, it was last Tuesday. To be completely honest with
you, it kind of got lost in the news with the U.S. election, with COVID. I think a lot of people were not really paying attention to that hurricane
when it made landfall.
It made landfall in really remote parts of Honduras, Nicaragua but as the storm lingered over few days and then moved on over the past few days, we
have really gotten a better picture of just how incredibly bad the damage is to this part of the world and how the effects might linger for some
time?
In Guatemala, the mud is 50 feet deep in some places. The landslide buried the village and with it, dozens of people are now missing. The relatives
say they already know what happened. There was great tragedy here, this man says. I lost 23 members of my family my father, my mother, my wife, my
three children, grandchildren, sisters, sisters in law.
And in Honduras, for every child air-lifted to safety, so many other people remain trapped penned in by flood waters that seemingly do not want to
leave. This is just some of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Eta the worst hurricane to hit this part of Central America in 22 years.
Millions are affected in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras the trio with the worst damage where dozens are dead and the death toll is rising. Tens
of thousands of houses have now been forced into shelters, which presents what might be the biggest challenge of them all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To keep you all safe distance, to keep proper hygiene.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIVERS: Because hurricane or not, the pandemic rages on. In places like this, social distancing is all but impossible. Health experts tell CNN a
spike in COVID cases in the last two days will not be a surprise. And flood waters that won't reseed - a startlingly higher risk of water-borne and
other illnesses everything Cholera to Yellow Fever.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CONNOLLY, HONDURAS REPRESENTATIVE, UNICEF: So we're going to get a perfect storm or a Pandora's Box of infectious diseases.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIVERS: All three countries are poorly equipped to deal with natural disasters. With the collapse of water and sanitation systems, COVID
prompted school closures likely extended and jobs hard to come by, for many, there are limited options left.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONNOLLY: Lots of families have lost everything. Now their only hope is to get a loan for a few thousand dollars and migrate north to Mexico and the
United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIVERS: This one natural disaster coupled with the worst pandemic in 100 years might scar Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala for a generation with
that talk for later about the future. For now there is little anyone here can do but wait for the flood waters to recede start to clean up and in
some places dig and hope.
And Becky, we just heard from Chad talking about how bad the hurricane season has been in 2020. Well, there could be incredibly bad news on the
near horizon. With forecasters saying that what right now is a disturbance in the Caribbean could well turn into some sort of tropical cyclone within
the next five days.
Most computer models at this point and we should remind our viewers that it's not an exact science, but most computer models at this point are
putting that tropical cyclone, which would be called Iota, making landfall in Northern Honduras, which is where some of the worst damage will have
been taken place as a result of Eta.
So, you can imagine how devastating that would be when flood waters are barely even - won't even have receded by then and then another tropical
cyclone could hit it has the potential to be absolutely catastrophic.
ANDERSON: Matt, thank you. Matt is in Mexico City, of course more on "Connect the World" after what will be a very quick break stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Well, play has just resumed at the "Masters Tournament" off the latest of many disruptions to what is this legendary golf event this year.
Just 25 minutes after the first round got underway this morning rain and lightening halted play for about three hours. Look at that and because of
the pandemic, there will be no oohs and ahs from the gallery.
No spectators allowed this year just the players. Even the sights and the smells a different Golfers will see autumn colors instead of the azaleas
and dogwoods that bloom if April when the tournament of course is usually held.
Andy Scholes is at the Augusta National Golf Course for the 84th Masters Tournament. The tournament is just resumed after this weather delay, quite
something when you look at the pictures. How is it tracking?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, Becky, the sun is shining now here in Augusta, Georgia. It's looking like it is going to be a beautiful
weekend now here for the Masters. The challenge for the tournament now is though catching up. They're not going to be able to finish round one here
on Thursday.
Likely not going to be able to finish round two either on Friday so the biggest challenge now is going to be trying to catch up over the week end
but the weather looks great for the rest of the time here after we had those very severe storms come through here earlier this morning causing the
three-hour weather delay.
Now defending champion this year, none other than Tiger Woods he's already out there on the course. He's even through three holes. Tiger trying to
capture that same magic that he had last year when he won his fifth Green Jacket. Now he had to wait 19 months to defend that title. But Tiger, he
said he's just grateful to get that chance here in 2020.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION: This has been an unprecedented circumstance that we're all dealing with. And to have it this long, it's
not the way I want to have it. I wanted to earn it back in April. Obviously, we didn't have it. We have an opportunity the play this week
which earlier in the year, we didn't think we would have this opportunity. So we're fortunate to be able to compete.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: And Becky, you talk about some of the differences from, you know, a normal Masters in April to the one we're having here in November. The
biggest is probably the fact that there are no patrons. No fans here at Augusta National. You're not going to hear those big roars and cheers from
the crowd when someone hits a big shot.
I followed Tiger Woods around for his practice round yesterday. You know, usually, there's hundreds if not thousands of people following Tiger Woods
around the course. Instead, it was just me and four or five other people. So that's one of the biggest differences you'll notice watching this year's
tournament.
ANDERSON: I was going to say, what a privilege? I would love to be just one of four or five following him around. What a great player he is? Look, he
may be defending the title today. He may be the defending champion but he's not the betting favorite, as I understand it. Who is?
SCHOLES: Yes, the betting favorite for this year's tournament is Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau, he is arguable the most interesting character on
the tour. He's known as the scientist because of the analytic way he approaches the game.
About a year ago, he came up with an idea of how to turn himself into a better golfer? That was to gain 40 pounds. And that's what he's done that
over the last year. Now he's become the most powerful golfer in the game able to just blast that ball off of the tee.
[11:55:00]
SCHOLES: And we asked Bryson about that journey to gain so much weight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, REIGNING U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: I look back a few years ago, yes, I mean, hopefully, that is inspiration for a lot of people to -
you know, if you set your mind to something, you can really do it. Those sacrifices did not come easy. They were hours and hours every single day of
trying to figure out my body. No, I didn't expect to have these results this quickly. I thought it would be a three or four-year process of working
out to get the same result.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: So, Becky, I mean, DeChambeau looks like a completely different golfer than just four years ago. Show you some pictures we have from 2016
when he made his Masters debut until now. I mean, just the difference, the transformation he put his body through.
And you know it's definitely paying off so far, he already won the U.S. Open this year looking for his first Masters. Off to a bit of a rocky
start. He made a mess on 13. He's 2 over through his first four holes but still plenty of time left here at Augusta National.
ANDERSON: Fantastic. Thank you, sir great tournament, of course, great tournament thank you. And speaking of greats, remember this from the
practice session. We showed you this shot yesterday but here it is again. And can you blame us?
Spanish Golfer Jon Rahm skillfully skipping that ball across the pond and there it goes. I believe you can hear the Director in the control room.
Steve, going, wow! He loves this shot. There you go, Steve. You all, may you find as much glory in your day as this. Stay safe. Stay well. Great
good evening from my colleagues here in Abu Dhabi and those working with us around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
